Joseph G. Cerasoli

Joe was born May 14, 1938, in Iron Mountain, son of the late Fred and Sophie (Swenski) Cerasoli. He was a 1957 Iron Mountain High School graduate and proud lifelong Northsider, getting his first job as a delivery driver for Schinderle’s Bakery at the age of 15.

Joe served in the Michigan Army National Guard, and lived in Milwaukee for several years, where he worked at Bud Selig Ford as a mechanic. He moved back to Iron Mountain and married Frances Foley on Aug. 6, 1966, at St. Mary & St. Joseph Catholic Church. Joe started Cerasoli Motors in Iron Mountain in 1961, which he owned and operated for 44 years before retiring in 2005.

Joe put work and family above all. He routinely worked 12 hour days and was on call for his tow truck business 24/7.

He had few hobbies, as he was a dedicated family man. He told his children, and anyone who would listen, that the best thing he ever did was marry Fran, and that she was the one thing that mattered most to him. He enjoyed spending time volunteering for his children’s activities — he was the de facto driver for the Iron Mountain cheerleading team from 1985-1989. After his grandchildren were born, he received great joy in playing with them in his swimming pool and giving them rides on his lawn mower.

When he did have free time, Joe had a few passions. He was very interested in aviation, airplanes and World War II history. He loved homegrown tomatoes and his father’s endive. His one passionate hobby was downhill skiing. He had a gorgeous skiing style, cultivated a close-knit group of skiing buddies and they took several very memorable and fun trips out West together over the years.

After he retired, Joe enjoyed hanging out with friends at B’s Cafe, and at his friends’ auto shops, just as he once hosted older friends and colleagues at Cerasoli Motors, where they sat on an old truck bench and enjoyed Pepsi from his vintage bottle dispenser.

Joe is survived by his wife of 59 years, Fran; his two daughters, Anne Cerasoli of Nashville, Tenn., and Laura (Kevin) Schmiegel of Lake Ellwood in Florence County; two brothers, Ray (Karen) Cerasoli and Fred Cerasoli; three sisters, Betty Beaudoin, Carol “Bitsi” Hamm, and Mary (Joe) Spigarelli; two grandchildren, Jack and Mary Frances; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Helen Daniels, and two brothers-in-law, Wally Beaudoin and Ted Hamm.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain. A memorial Mass will follow at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Iron Mountain. Father Michael Chenier will officiate. Burial will be at Iron Mountain Cemetery Park.

Condolences to the family of Joe Cerasoli may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.